Jumeirah Group has joined forces with environmental charity Ocean Generation to roll out the UNESCO-endorsed Ocean Academy in UAE schools, bringing marine conservation into classrooms for the first time on this scale.
The initiative builds on Jumeirah’s two decades of work protecting marine life and aims to instil ocean literacy in the next generation. Ocean Generation, founded in 2009 by Jo Ruxton MBE, co-creator with Malcolm Wood, of the landmark documentary A Plastic Ocean, specialises in translating complex ocean science into engaging lessons for young people.
The pilot programme launched this week across five Dubai schools, Greenfield International, The Arbor School, Hartland International, Fairgreen International, and Dubai British School Emirates Hills. More than 1,000 students aged 5 to 16 took part in curriculum-aligned modules covering coral reef conservation, sustainable fisheries, ocean biodiversity and the critical services oceans provide.
Delivered through interactive workshops, assemblies and ready-to-use teaching resources, the initiative enables schools to adopt ocean education without requiring prior expertise. Teachers were given lesson plans, videos and activities to give students a better understanding of their role in protecting the planet’s seas.
The pilot phase will run this academic term, with the potential to expand to more schools across the UAE.
Building on Conservation Legacy
For Jumeirah conservation has long been central to operations. Since 2004, the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project has rescued and released over 2,300 turtles back into the Arabian Gulf, with 96 of them satellite-tracked to monitor migration patterns.
At Jumeirah Al Naseem, more than 1,400 coral fragments are being nurtured in a dedicated nursery, with 300 already transplanted into the sea. The group is also a supporter of DUBAI REEF, one of the world’s largest coral restoration projects, with over 3,000 fragments translocated to offshore nurseries.
Beyond the UAE, Jumeirah’s sustainability work spans its global portfolio. At Jumeirah Thanda Island in Tanzania, the brand partners with local NGOs to protect whale sharks and turtles while training coastal communities in conservation. In the Maldives, guests at Jumeirah Olhahali Island actively contribute to reef restoration, helping regenerate marine habitats.
Ocean Generation’s Ocean Academy is endorsed by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission as part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. The programme is designed to help close the global gap in ocean literacy by equipping young people with knowledge and actionable steps to address threats such as overfishing, coral bleaching and plastic pollution.
‘Education is the foundation of change,’ said Jo Ruxton MBE. ‘By bringing the Ocean Academy into UAE schools, we can inspire a generation that understands the ocean’s importance not only to marine life but to our climate, food systems and future.’
With two-thirds of Jumeirah’s hotels located on coastlines, the group sees ocean protection as integral to its business.
‘Every turtle we release, every coral fragment we plant, and every child we educate brings us closer to a more sustainable future,’ Jumeirah said in a statement.
For the thousands of young students now engaging with the ocean in their classrooms, that future may begin in Dubai, but its impact will ripple far out.
